The Boston Celtics have found themselves the focus of COVID player vaccination speculation in recent weeks following several starters sitting for a game against the Toronto Raptors in Canada in late March due to the country’s policy on not allowing unvaccinated athletes to play in Raptors home games.
Specifically, veteran big man Al Horford and star forward Jaylen Brown were singled out as likely players to that end, and despite statements from both that they would indeed be available to play in a series with Toronto, that speculation refused to go away due to reluctance from both to state exactly what their COVID vaccination status is.
Brown has since gone on record to relate that his role as a National Basketball Players’ Association (NBPA) vice president has put him in a position to safeguard such information and to fight that it remains private, often referring to vaccination as a “personal choice.”
This was mirrored not only in the words of admittedly vaccinated and fellow NBPA VP Grant Williams but also in the policy of the team reaffirmed by team president Brad Stevens dating back to the tenure of Danny Ainge which is seemingly the position of team ownership.
Now, in response to the lingering questions about Horford, Brown and the team’s vaccination status more generally, that language has been echoed by Horford in a recent interview with the Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach in which the UF product revealed he is indeed vaccinated.
“Horford said he was aware that his absence from the recent Toronto game made some wonder about his future availability, but added that he would be able to play,” wrote Himmelsbach.
“He said this remains a personal matter for the players, and he declined to go into further detail.”
“It’s something I haven’t wanted to discuss,” related Horford.
“I think with the Celtics, we made it clear we’re not going to discuss those things, and it’s a health matter, and we all respect everybody’s individual perspectives. That’s why I’m not going to get into it and talk about it. But I’m ready to go.”
Much of the controversy has revolved around single-sourced, anonymous reports and speculation, in turn prompting reflection on how such reporting and PR ought to be conducted given the sensitive but important nature of COVID vaccination in the world beyond the NBA and within it.
Doubt will likely linger regardless of what players say by this point after so much ink has been spilled to muddy the waters — doubt which would only go away with all key Celtics being able to take the floor in Toronto.
“At this time of year, you’re curious, you definitely want to know,” Horford said to the Globe.
“But the only thing we can control is continuing to get better ourselves. It’s in the back of everybody’s mind but we can’t worry about that at the end of the day. We have to handle our business.”
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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